Related News

Related Club News

Orlando Pirates beat Black Leopards

Orlando Pirates started the second half of the season on a winning note, beating Black Leopards 1-0 at Orlando Stadium.

An early Thulasizwe Mbuyane goal was all that separated the teams as Bucs put up a pretty uninspiring performance, but did enough to hold out for the three points against a Leopards team that never had enough in attack.

Pirates started the match strongly and could have opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute when Benni McCarthy set up Siyabonga Sangweni with a one-on-one chance against the goalkeeper, but the defender missed his attempted volley.

As it was, Bucs took the lead just three minutes later. Right-back Bheki Nzunga provided a great cross and Mbuyane buried a bullet header into the top corner.

On the quarter-hour mark Pirates should have made it 2-0 as Lucky Lekgwathi had a free header from a corner-kick, but the skipper completely mis-timed his effort and the ball bounced wide.

As the half wore on Pirates lost their early sharpness and rhythm, allowing Leopards to come into the game more. However, apart from a half chance for Benedict Vilakazi – where the midfielder hesitated when presented with a shooting chance – the visitors hardly troubled Bucs’ backline.

Leopards made a double change early in the second half, sending on Humphrey Khoza and Rodney Ramagalela. The tactical shuffle certainly saw the Limpopo team up their game in attack, though they were unable to create any clear scoring chances.

Pirates continued to look disjointed in attack, though another good cross from Nzunga handed Mabena a scoring chance from which the forward placed a diving header straight at the keeper, while Rooi Mahamutsa also had a header from a corner sail over.

It was'nt the most convincing of perfomances by the Champs, however, there were a few positives for the future. Andile Jali proved once again that he can play with anyone in midfield, Ntshumayelo had an impressive debut in the Champions' jersey...(good movement, basics are executed with ease, good combination play with Jali and purposeful passing). Having said that about Ntshumayelo, I think Nzunga was awesome and there's more coming from him. His commitment and hardwork was really impressive. However, I believe the coach should start being more adventurous and I trust that we'll see a polished perfomance over the weekend in the Champs League followed by a warning to all teams in PSL on Wednesday!
'The Dream Team'...sails on!

Anonymous

posted: 10:41 pm

@abijan 95 .you rats like depending on history bt what is so stupid about you is that you don't know the difference between this season and last season.

Matt/ Tremble4Da2ndStarChamps

posted: 10:51 pm

Hahahaha! What do you have to say now editors of KickOff?

And as far as comparrisons go, Mbuyane scored while Chapman didn't for Vets.

Final score:
Mbuyane 1---Chapman 0!!!!

Now you do the math!!

Anonymous

posted: 11:23 pm

In 2nyt's game Leal played with 7 defensive players in Meyiwa, the bck 4, Jali & Ntshumayelo & only had 4 attacking players who I cnt imagine combining well even if dey were to play 50 games 2geda... Hw cn he attack w/ Mbuyane, Mabena, Klate & McCarthy... This players cnt strike a gud combination on any day...

Does Leal really want to tell us that Mabena is better than Tokelo Rantjie, Rudolf Bester, Talatou, Mayambela, Segolela, & Mabalane, jst 2 name a few? Does he want to frustrate players like Bester to a point where dey want 2 leave Bucs, the very same way Doutie left?

Playing w/ only Jali as a defensive midfilder & giving Bester & Talatou a chance in place of Thandani & Mabena could hv given us a completely different game...

I srsly doubt that Leal is the ryt coach 4 the calibre of players @ OP...

We need a coach like Ted Dumitru...

I pause...

Anonymous

posted: 11:32 pm

@Bafana bastyle my point was clear and true, I didn't insult any1 and I don't understand why u have to call me stupid now, that's why I don't want to satrt arguments with fans for small teams.

Anonymous

posted: 11:50 pm

Bafana ba style:2012-02-15 22:41

@abijan 95 .you rats like depending on history bt what is so stupid about you is that you don't know the difference between this season and last season.
-------
@Bafana ba style... If OP are the CURRENT defending champions of all PSL trophies as we speak, how r we referring to the past when we mention how we won the league last season...

Phela no other team has won it yet dis season so the only hard facts we have are those abt how we annexed all 4 PSL trophies, otherwise everything else uttered is purely SPECULATION...

The operative phrase is CURRENT DEFENDING CHAMPIONS...

I pause...

Anonymous

posted: 04:39 am

we still need more training on goal,we dont convert our chances

Anonymous

posted: 05:13 am

The last game played by Bester against Wits he failed.... Mabena might not be the best finisher bt generally we win when he starts so give the guy a break, which is why he is the most wanted player at Pirates by Bobby....

I have to admit the perfomance was not as convincing as i would hv liked to see, bt my question is which team was impressive.... Bester against Wits he failed with distiction, rantie is a striker and mabena is our middle come forward....

So mabena and rantie are not on the field for the same purpose.... Our coach is doing a good job, if you want to coach Pirates just buy yourself a PS3 and choose your line...

Football 101 was doctrinated at the University of Orlando.

Anonymous

posted: 06:36 am

Shapa rea roberts shapaaaa.

Anonymous

posted: 06:39 am

Buvuvukele ubuso balenunu wu-beer

Anonymous

posted: 07:15 am

Lordjerry

Its true we must support all our players especially those ones which are on the field,but certain players are not better than others and even a blind man would tell if so and so plays better than this.personally I don't have a problem with Mabena but I think the boy has being given a chance by the coach and at this level he should be knowing better! I mean everyone could see that he has talent and he is a hardworker but he is not giving us that extra impetus we looking for,he misses far too many easy chances,which even myself as a striker during my amateur level I would bury!we have abundance of players who could do much better in his position should he they be given time.
Again Daine Klate is off form but very hardworking and some stage you never know if he is a central midfielder or left back! I think he should be converted to left back position,he is trying too hard hence always prone to injuries.
Leal to me is not the master tactician let alone a skillful coach.he found an already oil machine and if he is not careful he will ruin everything which he found working.

Anonymous

posted: 07:25 am

Consitent is the way bucs

Anonymous

posted: 07:36 am

its important 2 pick up points as early as possible,it doesn't realy how.DA TEAM wil gel søøn,bucs faithful i urge u 2 giv juju a chance coz da guy hardly dissapoints and alwys raise his hand in time of need. REMEMBER LAST YEAR, HE SCORED DA VERY FIRST GOAL of 2011 FOR PIRATES and nw 4 2012,he's a blessing. BUCS TIL Vv appear on generations.

mno

posted: 07:46 am

I didn't watch the whole game but I understand from you guys that we didn't play so well.I'm just happy with the 3 points

Dooba (Glory Reclaimed)

posted: 07:46 am

facts:

Jali was booed
For team that was active in the market they were unconvincing
For a team with nearly 70 players this is shame
For a team that talk a lot, the stadium in Orlando was near empty
For a team challenging for Africa, the sox must just be pulled

How can you play without a creative midfield and two defensive midfielders who are slow, and two backs that have aged? My team Chiefs is useless, at least this i know for a fact... but for this Pierats, haaa?

KING?

posted: 07:52 am

Mabhakaniya amahle

Firstly i appreciate your positive feedback to the team and the coach.

The purpose for now is to collect every 3 points, it does n't matter how.

We need to stop praising others and when others do well we then divert the topic. Lets celebrate our dangerous weapon Thulasizwe THE JUJU MAN Mbuyane, this boy is not popular with you Bucs faithfuls but this must come to an end.

How many time has Mbuyane stood up for the team, How many times have we boed him, yet he comes back and score those important goals. Why do all these coaches love him, From Perreira, Kroll,now Leal.

How many times has Mbuyane killed Sundowns and Chiefs are biggest rivals. Lets give this player credit because it has been long over due

I am calling for OPERATION THULASIZWE MBUYANE

KING?

posted: 07:58 am

Dooba OPC: If u knew your football u will understand that, the first games after such a long break are usually the most difficult, playing teams from the bottom of the league and coming back with 3 points indicate that u are strong.

Dooba OPC: u are treated a like a filthy dog and we all know u are here to feel better. We both played bottom teams yet only one came with 3 points.

DR MAMPURU

posted: 08:01 am

BHEKI NGUZANA MY BOY I APPLAUD U FOR BEING THERE IN THE ABSENCE OF HAPPY, ONE WOULD NOT NOTICE THAT HAPPY IS NOT THERE AS FOR YOU WELL DONE AND KEEP IT UP, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MABENA, EISH COACH THE BOY IS A HARD WORKER I KNOW BUT HE IS NOT READY AND U CANT HAVE HIM IN THE STARTING 11 LEAVING THE LIKES OF BESTER, MABALANE AND TOKELO ON THE BENCH, TOKELO HAS PROVED BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT HE DESERVE TO BE IN THE STARTING 11, I WONT MIND IF U PUT BENNI ON THE BENCH AT SOME TIMES, PLEASE MR. LEAL WE ARE ASKING, AS FOR NEXT TIME WE WILL BE DEMANDING AS YOU SAW THAT WE WERE NOT HAPPY YESTERDAY!

DR MAMPURU

posted: 08:04 am

HAI IT WAS BETTER TO WATCH GENERATIONS THAN WATCHING LEAL'S PIRATES, I LUV BUCS AS I WILL DIE A PIRATES SUPPOTER BUT WHAT IS WATCHED YESTERDAY WAS A JOKE, BIBO DID OK, MANQANA LOOKED SCARED, AS FOR MABENA AND MBUYANE SECOND HALF, THE COACH SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED BESTER AND TOKELO AND LEAVE THIS TWO JOKES ON THE BENCH MXM!

Terms of use:

The comments posted do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist, inflammatory, defamatory, discriminatory comments or hate speech will be deleted and the user banned.

If legally obliged we will hand over your information under the Protection of Information Act.